The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 in Columbia, Mo., as the first public university west of the Mississippi River and the first state university in Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase territory. Designated a botanic garden, MU’s 1,262-acre main campus features more than 42,000 plants and trees and is an important outdoor laboratory for 10 academic programs. Many university buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Nationally accredited and consistently ranked among the top programs in public affairs, administration, and policy, the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs offers a master of public affairs degree and doctorate in public affairs that will help you take your career to the next level. We offer a core curriculum of classes that require no prerequisite coursework and two areas of specialization, Public and Nonprofit Management or Public Policy.  

Popular media consistently call Columbia, Mo., one of America’s best places to live because of its excellent quality of life. Mizzou is by far the largest employer in the area with more than 13,000 full-time employees.